Athletes outraged over FloTrack’s new multi-year Wanda Diamond League deal

The online sports streaming service FloSports announced on April 11 that, in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, all Wanda Diamond League action for U.S. audiences and territories will be streamed exclusively on FloTrack, beginning in 2025. Multiple prominent U.S. track athletes did not take the news well, critiquing FloTrack’s $29.99 monthly cost and expressing concerns about the lack of exposure and future growth of the sport.

.@Diamond_League will be moving to @FloTrack for USA viewers for the 2025 season, it was announced today (not including the #PreClassic). Also, @ryanmfenton has been promoted to General Manager of Track & Field and Running. pic.twitter.com/jtCoMigAUT

— David Monti 🥑 (@d9monti) April 10, 2024

“Every time it seems like track and field builds momentum, something like this happens and just negates all of it,” 2022 world championship medallist and 400m hurdler Trevor Bassitt tweeted on X (formerly Twitter).

Bassitt was not the only U.S. athlete to issue an opinion on the new deal between Wanda Diamond League and FloSports. World indoor silver medallist over 1,500m Nikki Hiltz had some harsh words: “I hate it. Peacock literally charges $5.99 a month for access to sports, news, and 900+ TV shows and movies. Imagine having the audacity to charge $29.99 a month for some mediocre track and field coverage… like at least add The Office to your package or something.”

For the rest of the 2024 season, the Wanda Diamond League is streamed on NBC/Peacock in the U.S., which users can access for $5.99/month. The issue for many is that FloSports is increasing the price and bringing the sport in front of a smaller market.

The numbers behind the FloSports and Wanda Diamond League deal were not disclosed to the public, but Petr Stastny, the CEO of the Wanda Diamond League, said in a statement that he expects this new deal to “elevate the profile of track and field and provide fans with unparalleled access.”

The agreement will include 14 Wanda Diamond League meets, except for domestic events held in the U.S. (the Prefontaine Classic/Eugene Diamond League). It also allows FloSports to continue to stream World Athletics Continental Tour Gold label events and World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold label events.

The Wanda Diamond League is the third industry acquisition by FloTrack (FloSports) this year. The online sports broadcaster based in Austin, Texas, also acquired Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS), the official home for NCAA rankings and statistics, and MileSplit, a nationwide network for high school track and field coverage in an effort to make FloSports a one-stop-shop for the sport’s coverage.

Starting in 2025, Diamond League has a new home 💎

Fans in the U.S. and its territories will be able to stream Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) events LIVE on FloTrack beginning in 2025.

Full details: https://t.co/GplypdaYWP pic.twitter.com/QL9VwyvNRo

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) April 10, 2024

Four years out from the L.A. Olympics, the deal does not make sense for driving more interest in the sport ahead of the 2028 Olympics. As we’ve seen with the PWHL in Canada (on TSN) and NCAA Women’s Basketball (on TSN and ESPN) recently, sports, athletes, and interest thrive when they are given a larger platform, instead of a niche one like FloSports, which is only found online and via their app.

Luckily, Canadian track and field fans will still be able to follow and watch the Wanda Diamond League on CBC, CBC Sports and the CBC Gem app for free, instead of forking out CDN $41.04 (USD $29.99) a month.